Top Stories category, Page 1228
Police say Stowe Township man killed brother, brother’s girlfriend in their home
Allegheny County Police have arrested a Stowe Township man accused of killing his brother and his brother’s girlfriend. Timothy Gumm, 60, was arrested Thursday night and charged with two counts of homicide and a gun charge. His alleged victims, his brother Christopher Gumm, 55, of Stowe; and the victim’s girlfriend,...
3 Western Pa. public universities plan for campus reopening this fall
A trio of Western Pennsylvania public universities that shuttered their campuses last fall and only recently began offering more classes on campus say they are making plans for a full-fledged return to campus for fall 2021. Officials at California, Clarion and Edinboro universities say they are cautiously planning to reopen...
Western Pa. ski resorts benefit from increased snowfall, popularity during pandemic
With snow continuing to fall across Western Pennsylvania, and much of the region having totals that are almost double that of previous years, ski resorts are seemingly reaping the benefits. Natural snowfall, in combination with snow making, at Seven Springs, Hidden Valley and Laurel Mountain has allowed slopes and trails...
Severe weather delays covid vaccine shipments to Pennsylvania
Weather dealt another blow to vaccine supply in Pennsylvania this week, with state health officials saying Thursday that no Moderna vaccine was shipped Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, and very little Pfizer vaccine was shipped during that time. “There will be a significant backlog of orders for distribution as a result...
Veteran, puppy help police capture suspect accused of injuring Scottdale officerVideo
A Marine Corps veteran and his German shepherd puppy helped police capture a suspect accused of injuring an officer and trying to break into several Scottdale homes on Wednesday. Edward Swingle, 31, said his military training kicked in, and so did the instincts of his 4-month-old puppy, Keeper. “I’m happy...
Bob Dole says he’s been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer
TOPEKA, Kan. — Bob Dole, a former longtime senator and the 1996 Republican presidential nominee, announced Thursday that he has been diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer. Dole, 97, said in a short statement that he was diagnosed recently and would begin treatment on Monday. “While I certainly have some...
Pennsylvania covid cases down over 50% in past month
Pennsylvania’s covid numbers continue to decline, as the state Department of Health’s latest report shows cases on average have dropped more than 50% since last month. The state reported 3,345 new cases Thursday, with 2,250 of those confirmed through 12,240 new PCR tests. Officials said 1,095 cases were listed as...
Westmoreland County reports 92 new covid cases, 5 deaths
Despite an increase in new cases from yesterday, Westmoreland County continues to see an overall decline in its new case average. The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported 92 new cases of coronavirus Thursday. It’s the 15th straight day the county’s new case count was in double digits. The last time...
Allegheny County covid numbers continue to decline
Despite surpassing 74,000 cases of coronavirus Thursday, Allegheny County’s overall covid averages continue to decline. The county health department’s latest report added 247 new cases of the virus. Of those, 114 cases were confirmed through 940 new PCR tests, processed from Feb. 8 to Wednesday. Officials said four of the...
Hairstyle protection law doesn’t impact ban on Pittsburgh police growing beards
Pittsburgh police officers must have neatly trimmed hair in a style that doesn’t interfere with their uniform cap. Most male officers aren’t allowed to grow beards, under a departmental policy last revised in 2017. But the CROWN Act, a law the city enacted in October, spelled out protections for Pittsburgh...
That 4 p.m. anxiety for Downtown street parkers? It started 100 years ago
Pittsburghers know the feeling. It’s a minute before 4 p.m. and you’re running errands on Wood Street, Downtown. But your car is parked on Smithfield, one street up and several blocks down. You sprint frantically. When you get to Smithfield, you can see the tow trucks circling like sharks, ready...
Report: Pa. casinos see revenue increase in JanuaryVideo
Pennsylvania casinos started the year off strong as facilities work to recoup revenues lost to the coronavirus pandemic. In January, casinos statewide generated $311 million in gambling revenues, according to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. That was nearly 3% more than the $302.8 million in revenues generated in January 2020....
NASA rover lands on Mars to look for signs of ancient lifeVideo
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A NASA rover streaked through the orange Martian sky and landed on the planet Thursday, accomplishing the riskiest step yet in an epic quest to bring back rocks that could answer whether life ever existed on Mars. Ground controllers at the space agency’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory...
U.S. life expectancy drops a year in pandemic, most since WWII
Life expectancy in the United States dropped a staggering one year during the first half of 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic caused its first wave of deaths, health officials are reporting. Minorities suffered the biggest impact, with Black Americans losing nearly three years and Hispanics, nearly two years, according to...
Winter weather advisory remains in effect, more snow expected through Friday
Western Pennsylvania woke up Thursday to an official overnight snowfall total of ¾ of an inch, though it’s likely some areas received more, according to the National Weather Service. “We’re actually looking at a very fine gradient from the northwest to the southeast right now,” said David Shallenberger, lead meteorologist...
Westmoreland County bars and restaurants in line for nearly $4M in grants
Westmoreland County will hand out nearly $4 million in grants to local restaurants and other hospitality businesses struggling to remain open during the coronavirus pandemic. The money comes from the $145 million Pennsylvania Hospitality Industry Recovery Program approved by state lawmakers and Gov. Tom Wolf. Westmoreland is slated to receive $3.95...
SUV stuck on North Park Lake after driver attempts to cross frozen surface
An SUV was trapped in ice on North Park Lake in McCandless after a 23-year-old man attempted to drive across the frozen lake late Wednesday night, according to Allegheny County Police. The driver told investigators that he he mistook the lake for a parking lot. The incident occurred near the...
Pittsburgh Hays bald eagles attack raccoon intruderVideo
The Pittsburgh Hays female bald eagle vigorously defended both of her eggs when a curious raccoon climbed about 80 feet to reach the nest Wednesday evening, according to PixCams, the Murrysville wildlife webcam company. The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, along with PixCams, operates a live 24-hour webcam that caught...
State university program would offer free education in exchange for staying in Pennsylvania
When Edinboro University senior Sam Bohen graduates in May, he’ll bring a wealth of knowledge, lifelong friendships and $40,000 in student debt. “Many students are working our way through college by spending our days in class and our nights on the job so that we can afford rent and books,”...
More deadly storms coming so prepare better, experts sayVideo
WASHINGTON — Deadly weather will be hitting the U.S. more often, and America had better get better at dealing with it, experts said Wednesday as Texas and other states battled winter storms that blew past the worst-case planning of utilities, governments and millions of shivering citizens. The storms this week...
Fresh round of incoming snow brings truck restrictions from PennDOT, Turnpike commission
Following a National Weather Service winter weather advisory of more snow making its way toward Pittsburgh, PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will implement truck restrictions in the early hours of Thursday morning. The NWS issued the advisory shortly before 4 p.m. on Wednesday. It will last through 7 a.m....
Allegheny County plans to administer 2nd covid vaccine doses in timely fashionVideo
The Allegheny County Health Department is working to ensure people who received first doses of the covid vaccine will get their second dose, as planned, after state officials announced a likely shortage of more than 50,000 doses next week. State officials on Wednesday described a “perfect storm of circumstances” after...
Before making it big, Rush Limbaugh got his start in Pittsburgh as ‘Jeff Christie’
Many people know that Rush Limbaugh made a name for himself with a show that went on to reach more than 600 stations nationwide. What remains more obscure is how he got his start in major-market radio broadcasting. It happened in Pittsburgh in the early 1970s and it ended up...
Government seizes more than 10M phony N95 masks in covid-19 probe
WASHINGTON — Federal agents have seized more than 10 million fake 3M brand N95 masks in recent weeks, the result of an ongoing investigation into counterfeits sold in at least five states to hospitals, medical facilities and government agencies. The most recent seizures occurred Wednesday when Homeland Security agents intercepted...
Amy Marcinkiewicz retires from WPXI, makes bid for Butler County office
WPXI reporter Amy Marcinkiewicz spent 26 years covering the news in Butler County — telling stories, meeting people and entering their homes, on the air and in person. The job required her to be impartial and open, to help her connect with those in the community she reported on. She...
